How long have you had your lawn mower?

[Mopar440+6]

I've got a 1970 John Deere 140 tractor that to my knowledge has never been rebuilt and it still runs like a champ. I do a little more maintenance than I probably would with a newer mower but I like the vintage stuff...

[Kern Dog]

I'm starting to wonder about the fuel issue...
A few weeks back I added about a pint of 110 octane unleaded (NO joke) to it and it ran great. Now I'm getting curious.

[JB400]

I believe it was done to the 5hp Briggs go kart racing engines that I raced against, so I say it will be alright for your lawnmower.  At least for a little while.   These small engines don't like this newer fuel, that's for sure.

[bill440rt]

My Crapsman mower is about 10 years old and still going strong.
I change the oil every year or two, plug, sharpen the blade, etc. Still starts on the first pull. However, the vented gas cap I think is plugged. It'll try to stall every now & then so I keep the cap just finger tight to allow air to vent. I probably should just invest in a new $10 cap. 

Also have a John Deere tractor, bought around 2003 or so? Runs great. Periodic maintenance is key.

[GOTWING]

I have a 2003 John Deere L120, it has 537 hours on it, it has been great as far as the engine goes, I change the oil every spring, I have done plugs twice, fuel and air filter every other year. Now for items that have broken from wear...

The solid cast iron front axle snapped in half ( local JD dealer had in stock ) common problem so they say.
Front spindles worn out until front wheels literally came off. Had to replace both sides and replace wheels, the holes were worn
Both tie rods broke on two different occasions.
Fuel pump failed this spring, ( got one brand new on ebay $23.00 w/ free shipping )
Replaced blade deck spindles and of course blades every other summer.
The belt usually lasts a couple of seasons before it breaks.

I'm still keeping it, however I did just get a new John Deere Zero turn, I love it!

[bakerhillpins]

I have a 98 John Deere JX75.  It's kinda survived. My wife has detonated the blade clutch 2 times and managed to bend the crankshaft.  She successfully got me mowing the lawn again.    It's still moving and cutting very well though. Regular maintenance! 

[Kern Dog]

I bent a crank on a mower by cutting tall grass and hitting a horseshoe!
After that, I bought the mower I have now.

[JB400]

I bent a crank on a mower by cutting tall grass and hitting a horseshoe!
After that, I bought the mower I have now.

I thought horseshoes were supposed to be lucky.

[GOTWING]

 

[Cooter]

Last mower before the Wifey bought me this newer one, was an old MTD. Ran good when it was running, but had to work on it before I could mow.
Got a new Riding mower now and love it. Run straight fuel in it though, and always changed oil regularly.

[chargerboy69]

I bought a Craftsman push mower, nothing fancy, during a end of summer sale 8 years ago.  It runs as good as the day I bought it.

[GPULLER]

I've got a 1970 John Deere 140 tractor that to my knowledge has never been rebuilt and it still runs like a champ. I do a little more maintenance than I probably would with a newer mower but I like the vintage stuff...

Would like to find a 140 cheap someday. I would make it look like this.   

[nvrbdn]

my john deere rider isnt that cool.

[ACUDANUT]

I've got a 1970 John Deere 140 tractor that to my knowledge has never been rebuilt and it still runs like a champ. I do a little more maintenance than I probably would with a newer mower but I like the vintage stuff...

Would like to find a 140 cheap someday. I would make it look like this.   

How does it cut grass ?

[ACUDANUT]

Anyway, my riding mower is a Home Depot "Scott's" 25HP 50 inch cut Briggs and Stratton is 15 years old and still does the job. 

[JB400]

A person could get a horse or a cow, then they wouldn't have to worry about mowing the lawn and wouldn't have to pay for gas either.  Another thing is, you'd have something to entertain the kids while your at it.

[GPULLER]

I've got a 1970 John Deere 140 tractor that to my knowledge has never been rebuilt and it still runs like a champ. I do a little more maintenance than I probably would with a newer mower but I like the vintage stuff...

Would like to find a 140 cheap someday. I would make it look like this.   

How does it cut grass ?

Don't care looks cool as hell.   

[GPULLER]

A person could get a horse or a cow, then they wouldn't have to worry about mowing the lawn and wouldn't have to pay for gas either.  Another thing is, you'd have something to entertain the kids while your at it.

Growing up my family raised Quarter Horses, 65 of them.  My brothers and I were into cars, trucks snowmobiles, tractors my parents always tried to get us into riding and working with the horses.  Never really worked, mom always used the line "the boys are more into horsepower than horses".  She's right.

[ACUDANUT]

Girls will always want to get close to a Horse VS. a loud car.  You missed out buddy. lol

[GPULLER]

Girls will always want to get close to a Horse VS. a loud car.  You missed out buddy. lol

Not really, in the late 70's when we were heavy into showing there weren't much for girls around.  My wife likes cars more than horses. 

When the car is in the garage don't have to feed it or pitch sh$t.

[ACUDANUT]

Also if you think Ethanol is bad in an old Dodge, it's 20x worse in a small 2-stroke or a motorcycle.   I bought a new Troy-Bilt a few years back and it stuttered and stammered like it was on its last legs right out of the box.  Took it in for service and they couldn't find anything wrong.  Did some googling and found some interesting posts about 10% Ethanol being very hard on 2-strokes.  Filled it up with 100% pure 89 octane and it ran like a champ.  Well, until some hoodrat stole it out of my storage locker.

I have run Ethanol (10 percent) in everything for over 20 years.  I don't like it, but we have no choice. Thanks EPA.

[bull]

I agree with the ethanol comments. Nothing but trouble with that crap until about three years ago when I located a zero ethanol station and started filling my small engine cans with it. Now there are three non ethanol stations nearby. We got a Husqvarna mower with a Honda engine more than ten years ago and I fought that thing tooth and nail every spring getting it to run, even with Stabil. But ever since I started using nothing but real gas the mower is up and running with 2-3 pulls after sitting all winter. One pull every time all summer after that.

[Silver R/T]

Best thing you can do is run some Sta Bil, Sta Bil actually has ethanol treatment (marine formula) but I havent tried it yet.